Butte semi-weekly miner., 1887-07-13
MANAGER OAKEs INTERVIEWED.

The city of Butte has been honored O
late by the visit OF two OF the leading rail
way managers OF the c.'untry-T. j. Pot
ter, OF the Union Pacific, and T. F. Oakes
Of the Northern Pacific. Mr.. Potter cam
to the citv laboring under the disadvant
age OF bis 6rst tour OF inspection in new
field and in a new line OF railway activity
Mr.. Oakes had been here before, and wa.
familiar with the field. Hence it was wher
he was approached with series OF inter
rogatories he was armed with prompt an
swers and faltered not at the whole array
of sixteen questions fired at short range
We have known Mr.. Oakes for many
years, and have always found him
to be one OF the frankest and
most ready men to respond to an inter.
view OF our extensive railway acquaint.
ance. We must admit that some OF the
questions asked OF Mr.. Oakes yesterday
were leading in their character, but he did
not evade anv of them. His responses were
clear and to the point. as will be seen by
reference to the full text Of the interview in
our news columns. Among other things he
admitted that if Butte continues to grow
hecould not be surprised to see the Butte
and Bozeman line built at an early date.
In the meanwhile, OF course, the Mullan
Tunnel, which kas been fully re-
stored, as Mr.. Oakes says through
the practical efficiency Of our fellow
townsman, Marcus DAILY, will be util-
lied. This could hardly be otherwise until
L. l..s1 O.
as the company has no other outlet from
St. Paul to the coast. Mr.. Oakes was gen.
erous enough to express more fear for his
line from the management of Mr.. Potter
than from the change in gauge OF the Utah
& Northern. We trust, however, that heis
wrong 10 his conclusions that Butte will
receive no benefits from the change in |
gauge in the way OF reduced rates but ne |
advances strong argument to sustain his |
theory. As to a betterment of the Mon
tana Union service he could only give Us |
the assurance that time would regulate |
that difficulty.
In the matter of the proposed Butte 4
Boseman line, Mr.. Oakes was moved by
II think this is an excellent project. If these
capitalists will build the line turn it to
the Northern Pacific they will do something that
will entitle them to the gratitude of their coun-
trymen."
The fact is these capitalists are propos.
ing to make combine with the Chicago &
Northwestern, and measures to that end
are being actively taken, and it is for the
Northern Pacific to make such concessions
as will give them the advantage they are
entitled to as being first in the field.
That something will soon be done
in the direction OF securing a
short line between Butte and
Bozeman il beyond doubt. The men
engaged in the enterprise mean business,
and they have the financial biIity to carry
out their plans regardless of any combina-
tion. But this will not be necessary. With
two such powerful interests AZ the Northern
Pacific and the Chicago & Northwestern,
desiring to take the line off their hands,
the capitalists of Butte and Bozeman need J
have no fears for the future of their pro- +
perty should they build this line them
selves.
It is gratifying to The MINER to an
nounce on 80 high an authority as Mr.. :.
Oakes that the Northern Pacific and it's
Rocky Fork & Cooke City line. This is a
road in which every consumer OF coal in
the Territory of Montana is interested. %
Its completion and the hearty co.opera-
tion OF the Northern Pacific in its opera
tion would insure cheaper fuel supply for
the whole Territory. We all remember -
how last winter the people of Montana :,
suffered from the lack of an adequate u
|uel supply. If these mines at Rocky Fork -
can be made available this season the fuel !"
problem will have been solved, and no ~ :,
power can accomplish 80 much in this be- AZ
half as the Northern Pacific. fly
reasonable running arrangements ~
,aD be made with the great
company, the Rocky Fork
inc will be built at once, as the right OF pc
way has been secured. and the company tu
las the financial ability to complete it's ~
Then this great source OF m
uel supply would be opened up to the con-
umers OF the Territory, and it would be co
splendid source OF revenue to the North. OF
rn Pacific, fact that the keen discern.
nent OF Mr.. Oakes makes clear to him;
ence his emphatic declarations OF friend lol
hip for the enterprise. iol
- p'.
1t is gratifying fact that the Northern -,
acific has taken active measures to secure ~
5s share OF the oriental trade. 1t had been
Jared by it's friends that the Canadian Pa.
'fic, through the blundering act OF Con. h,,
ress, called by courtesy, the Interstate y.
ommerce law, had thrown the bulk of the ov,
rade over the Canadian line. We are all -,
,stly proud of the Northern Pacific and sF
ould see its every interest promoted It - -,
the pioneer transcontinental line in Mon
ana, and we would see it prosper. There
re times and occasions when our interests
ictate that we shalllook to it's rivals for re- aei
ef, yet we feel sort OF home interest in vn' y,
and shall ever stand by it when we can one
OF better our condition by looking else. III III
here. In
- dis
In conclusion, we would congratulate the =,
tizens OF Butte and OF the Territory that
r. Oakes gives us . vorv oro ,;fu;n sou
nee that he ;s not +o ro,;no,,;sh = So ing
,oront ~ ~. l the
lad OF the executive department six or WI
ven years, and his administration has '''
en, under the disad vantages that he has -
bored, phenomenally successful. His ia
lliarity with the needs OF Montana is an -'e'
Vantage in his adminis' ration which a Ion
w manager would have to acquire by ex. ~, nn'
rience. No man knows more of the de- '.u
ils OF railway management than he; nor VI
uld the company find any one to sub. =,
rye their interests and the interests of II
q neonle nm tho Inc lot+o. Ill.,. - Nv. doc
nat. therefore +bot h;s ,oso,,,.;. l.. the
=, ~" ~ | tho